The Boat Race, a bar and restaurant review
Doesn't seem much going on in the world so I'll do some Sunday-posting. I suggest most readers would rather skip this post.Having always failed to watch the boat race through, opining that from what I'd seen on TV the team winning at the first bend won the race, I was somewhat surprised in 2003 to a) find myself in Putney on the day of the boat race, and b) find it was moderately exciting (though always with that nagging feeling that if the atom bomb under Twickers had missed a few then a small tactical one under Putney would have mopped them up, and some useful collaterall with it).
Anyway I'm pleased to note today that my uninformed view has been proven right, and even on TV it was about as interesting as you'd imagine watching students rowing on a cold day would be. Still well done everyone who took part -- I'm only jealous of fit people.
A more interesting view of London I saw on Friday at the Vertigo bar on the 42nd (i.e top) floor of what used to be the old NatWest Tower (what a shame they missed the chance to call it the Level 42 bar though). Word of warning -- you need to book in advance, it has airport style security and it only sells champagne. Also the curious shape of the tower means it really seems more like a circular corridor. If it wasn't in mid-air you would not go there, particularly as it closes at 11pm. However it is and you get a lovely view of London, stretching out for miles around.
Two restaurants I have bravely gone to so you can be better informed. Latium on Berners Street, W1 (opposite the Sanderson) is a new Italian with specalises in food from the Rome region. And very nice it is too -- especially (so my companions told me) was the liver and veal (where were their principles?), though if you don't like them undercooked ask for them burnt. I had the duck, which as duck always is was very tasty, and unlike duck usually is it came in large quantities. Comes with nice little tasting bits between courses (there's a word for this, isn't there?). Good value-ish at £19.50 for two courses. Uhmm...I'm not very good at this review thing -- try Matthew Fort in the Guardian.
Not new, but worth going to, at least if you are in Notting Hill, is Manor, on All Saints Road, W11. This was the basis for the restaurant in Sliding Doors (if you are a Gwyneth fan) and I would recommend it for a Friday or Saturday night when you want a trendy bar with restaurant attached. A starter of oysters tasted like oysters the world over, i.e like eating salty water. Our main courses, a whole seabass (which stared at me menacingly) was described as 'lovely' and my pork steak was fabby. Desert, a chocolate cake with ice cream, was nice like only chocolate cake with ice cream can be. It's also down the road from a fabby pub, The Pelican, with a great jukebox.
Update: It appears Oxford lost because their blades clashed with Cambridge. For some reason the commentators are describing this as if its the first day of the Somme - 'awful, awful'. The Oxford cox is not taking it in the gentlemanly way we expect of such an august institution.
Update II - By watching it I've let Simon Kuper down, and that makes me feel bad. I'll go for a walk next year.
Update III -- the BBC has been receiving lots of complaints over the Cambridge's cox's exclamation after the clash of oars, 'Now's it's time to fuck them'. I bet they're glad it's going to ITV.
posted by Matthew @ 3/28/2004 05:28:00 PM
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